Te Aka Mauri opens tomorrow

Te Aka Mauri,
the new home of Rotorua Library and Lakes District Health Board outpatient
child services opens to the community tomorrow after an official opening today.

In
preparation for Saturday’s big day, an official opening ceremony to cut the
ribbon was held before about 100 invited guests at the new facilities on
Haupapa Street this morning.

The building, gifted the name Te Aka
Mauri, has undergone a makeover while the adjoining Jean Batten Square has been
extended and transformed into a new community space including a playground.

Rotorua Lakes
Council’s Kaitiaki Ahurea Māori, Monty Morrison, explained the four colours of Te
Aka Mauri – te aka meaning a vine or interconnection and mauri meaning life
force. The name reflects a shared vision
to create a facility of excellence to advance the community wellbeing and
understanding.

Mr Morrison
says the ground floor of the new building, which is green, represents the earth
and signifies health and wellbeing while the first floor – yellow – symbolises
sulphur and represents the essence of manaakitanga (nurture/care for).

“The second
floor – the red – represents our volcanic surroundings. This floor is named Ngā
Mātā Waka signifying discovery and returning to our roots of Īhenga and our
forebears.”

“The third
floor – the blue – the sky is named Te Heketanga a Rangi and focuses on toi ora
– the utmost wellbeing.”

Guest
speakers spoke of the innovative nature of the project, which will see the DHB
services sharing space with the library.

Mayor Chadwick
described it as visionary and a first for New Zealand.

“This amazing
facility builds on a vision that I first stood for as Mayor of Rotorua - for us
to become a child friendly district. The
way the community values and invests in our children needs to grow resilient
communities. I was always motivated and inspired by the pediatricians who I
worked with at the DHB,” she said.

Mr Shaw said
it was essential to find ways of providing services to children in a way worked
better for them.

Dr Lance
O’Sullivan, who is a guest speaker at tomorrow’s Community Open Day, congratulated
Rotorua on the collaborative project and encouraged the DHB to consider how it could
expand on this initiative in the future.

“How are you
going to respond to the possibility that maybe the library may not be the most
commonly frequented place in the community in future? You need to start thinking about where Te Aka
Mauri 2.0 is.”

Mr Shaw welcomed
Dr O’Sullivan’s challenge and said the DHB was currently looking at alternative
ways to deliver services.

Many people
at today’s ribbon cutting ceremony spoke positively about the new space, which
includes features such as an interactive Fenton Agreement display, Don Stafford
Room, Genealogy room and iMac computer suite.

Tomorrow’s Community
Open Day will be marked by various activities including live presentations,
face painting and entertainment. The day starts at 10am and the library will
also be open on Sunday, marking the start of seven-day opening.